Kicking With Shoes

[Mischievousjoe]

After training in styles that use a lot of kicks the last couple of years, it's occured to me several times to try these kicks wearing my street shoes, seeing as how class is always done barefoot. I've noticed some kicks definitely work better than others wearing shoes, and also depending on the shoe your wearing.

 

I'd be extremely interested in hearing anyones ideas on variations on kicks using shoes, drills with shoes, and whether you wear lower cut shoes most of the time solely for the purpose of being able to properly position your foot when and if the time comes. for example, a high top sneaker or heavy boot might be great for a side kick or dropping a heel , but doesn't seem to translate well to a plain old roundhouse kick which is really a staple.

[Pacificshore]

I'm sure wearing certain types of street shoes would limit particular kicks. As in this case the round kick. Although it would be difficult to get the same extension with your foot, say kicking to the groin, then I would probably work on changing the angle of delivery. Perhaps widening the angle of the kick would work better than a narrower angle like you would execute the kick w/o shoes

 

Just my opinion

[manuelito]

also you will find that pivoting your foot can be sometimes difficult. as for drills , do the same just wear shoes. one will quickly find out what works best. i personally wear low cut shoes, unless at work. i work construction therefor hig top steeltoe boots for protection. also a roundhouse kick can bedone with a high top shoe, just not with instep of foot.

[Pacificshore]

also you will find that pivoting your foot can be sometimes difficult. as for drills , do the same just wear shoes. one will quickly find out what works best. i personally wear low cut shoes, unless at work. i work construction therefor hig top steeltoe boots for protection. also a roundhouse kick can bedone with a high top shoe, just not with instep of foot.

Excellent point on pivoting Different surfaces make for different pivot ranges in regards to the type of shoes you wear.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I will periodically have a "street clothes" class and have people wear what they normally wear around town.

 

The type of kicking that we do (no high kicks at all) works pretty well with all of our kicks in shoes.

 

Myself, I wear either dress shoes (soft soles), low cut tennis shoes, or cowboy boots. The boots are teh only ones that limit certain kicks and aren't as stable on the floor, but they have other advantages such as shin protection against kicks, hard heel and edge, and are GREAT for foot stompin'!

[foreveryoung001]

When I take breaks at work, I'll go out back and practice a form or tow, and a few different kicks. I've noticed, that over time, my body has adjusted to throwing the kicks with shoes. I usually wear a generic athletic shoe. In back of the building, we have black top and grass, and I split my time between the two. I'll work some late nights as well, and when I'm here alone, I'll work through some stuff in the studio, and I've found that carpet and athletic shoes are a difficult match for throwing just about any kick where you need to pivot your foot. Maybe I just haven't worked on it enough, but I don't even really notice a major difference anymore between a normal workout (bare foot in the classroom), and my practice in back of the station... I can't say the same for the carpet...

[Vito]

first of all, if on the street, dont use your tkd kicks. anyway, in MT there arent a lot of different kicks, but most of them are useful on the street with shoes on. the front push kick (or a front snap) is the same as if you didnt have shoes on- the ball of your foot goes into the target. a roudhouse kick hits with the shin anyway, so once youre good enough at it you can do it with boots on. even a side kick, with the heel of your foot or shoe, is about the same. the only real problem with shoes on the street is their weight.

 

personally, though, while kics are useful, i rely more on my hands when dealing with street confrontations.

[DLopez]

first of all, if on the street, dont use your tkd kicks.

 

That may be fine advice if you are unskilled in TKD-style kicks.

 

But to assume that because they don't work for you, they won't work for anyone else is pretty short-sighted.

 

We all know you're in love with MT and all, but again, that doesn't mean it is THE best MA for everyone and that other MA styles aren't equally effective in the hands of a person skilled in it.

 

I have the feeling you're going to start talking about how you would counter a TKD kick and all, but you would be assuming that you won't ever run into a TKD'er that is just plain badder than you.

 

Closed minds really bug me.

[JerryLove]

Dunno... I do all of my martial training in shoes. Depending on where I am working at the time, they can vary from sneakers to steel-toed engineer's boots.

[Mischievousjoe]

Actually Vito, if you are reffering to the high section juping and spinning kicks frequently associated with tkd, then i'd have to agree with you, probly impractical on the street, especially for me, seeing as i'm below average for a guy. ( 5 " 4) head shots with my feet aren't impossible on a taller oponent, but they are difficult - I think i should point out though, that any good tkd school has a LOT of kicks other than just flashy high ones, and a lot are similiar to MT kicks. I practice low section and mid section lead leg round kicks incessantly, and the front push kick you describe is also taught in tkd. The style is really more versatile than people seem to give it credit for....